Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Nov. 12, 2024

CONTACT: Lynn Sutfin, 517-241-2112, [email protected]     

Michigan’s overdose death rate declines nearly
five times faster than national average
While significant decline, racial disparities persist 

LANSING, Mich. – Overdose deaths in Michigan decreased by 5.7% in 2023, with 2,826 deaths provisionally recorded compared to 2,998 deaths in 2022, reported the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS). Additionally, MDHHS notes the overall overdose death rate has dropped from its peak of 31.1 deaths per 100,000 in 2021 to 28.2 in 2023.  

The decline marks progress in the ongoing fight against the opioid crisis in the state. Based on currently available data, the decline in Michigan from 2021 to 2023 is almost five times greater than the national decline seen in that same time frame.  

“Michigan is a leader in addressing opioid addiction and has been recognized for our harm reduction efforts by the National Governor’s Association,” said Elizabeth Hertel, MDHHS director. “We will continue investing in programs that further our efforts to save lives by decreasing substance use disorders, expanding treatment options and improving recovery success.” 

The decline in the overdose death rate can be credited in part to public health measures like the launch of Michigan’s Naloxone Direct Portal, which provides the opioid overdose reversal medication at no charge to community groups and helps boost distribution of naloxone in high-risk areas. The state has also increased access to fentanyl and xylazine testing strips, enabling individuals who use drugs to detect these dangerous substances and reduce their risk of accidental overdose. 

While this data is promising, the racial gaps continue. Based on 2023 provisional data, Black residents are 2.8 times and American Indian/Alaska Native residents are 2.2 times more likely to die of an overdose than white residents.

“Public health officials, state agencies and community partners have been working tirelessly to reverse overdose trends,” said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, chief medical executive. “The harm-reduction tools we have implemented are saving lives, but we must ensure that their benefits are felt equally across all communities, particularly among those residents who are disproportionately affected.” 

The disparities in death rates reflect a broader systemic issue that is being addressed through targeted interventions in communities of color. MDHHS is taking a data-driven approach to ensure substance use disorder funding reaches communities with the highest need.  

“Limited access to care has been a key driver of racial disparities in Michigan communities, from the COVID pandemic to the opioid crisis,” said Tommy Stallworth, MDHHS senior advisor. “The state’s commitment to expanding funding for community-based and mobile health services is crucial. By including substance use disorder interventions and improving access to care in marginalized communities, the state is taking important steps toward addressing these disparities in a meaningful way.”  

As the state continues to combat the opioid crisis and substance use disorder (SUD), MDHHS and the Opioids Task Force prioritize implementing targeted strategies to address the unique needs of communities of color. This includes expanding access to life-saving resources, improving outreach and addressing social determinants of health that contribute to overdose risk. The state remains committed to reversing the harm caused by the overdose epidemic and will ensure that all communities, regardless of race, benefit from prevention efforts. 

Other recent key accomplishments and initiatives include: 

Workforce 

• Expanded the number of Medicaid SUD providers by removing barriers for providers and offering incentives such as loan repayment to launch or expand services.  
• Worked with physicians to increase the number of buprenorphine prescribers in the state.  

Reimbursement 

• Expanded Medicaid reimbursement for office-based treatment for alcohol use disorder and opioid use disorder in the primary care setting. 
• Removed the prior authorization requirement to prescribe medications to treat opioid use disorder (MOUD) for Medicaid beneficiaries, allowing for a 20% increase in the last four years for the number MOUDs prescribed by primary care physicians.    

Community Investments 

• Distributed more than 1 million kits of naloxone in communities resulting in at least 21,642 overdose reversals since the launch of the order portal in 2020 to enable communities to obtain naloxone at no cost. 
• Launched early intervention treatment and referrals in select Federally Qualified Health Centers, Rural Health Clinics and Child and Adolescent Health Centers. 
• Improved the system of care for pregnant individuals in northern Michigan by providing support and education for physicians in the Opioid Home Health network. 
• Supported substance-exposed babies and their families by expanding supports through rooming-in, which allows birthing individuals, caregivers and babies with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome to stay together during treatment. 
• Collaborated with Michigan Department of Corrections to support peers in parole/probation offices to assist individuals returning from incarceration. 
• Provided more than 20,000 rides for SUD-related services. Transportation has been identified as a barrier in almost every community engagement related to SUD.  
• Partnered with Michigan State Housing Development Authority to expand recovery housing to help meet the statewide demand. This resulted in an additional 27 recovery homes with 79 additional recovery beds, prioritizing counties and populations with the highest need. 
• Expanded opioid treatment capacity at 10 Michigan Department of Corrections prisons, which provide medications for opioid use disorder to 884 incarcerated individuals. 

More information about programming and resources can be found on the SUD Resources website. Information about how the state’s Opioid Healing and Recovering Fund is being spent can be found on the opioids settlement website.  

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Nov. 12, 2024

CONTACT: Lynn Sutfin, 517-241-2112, [email protected]     

Governor Whitmer, MDHHS and other state
organizations celebrate Family Caregiver Month  

LANSING, Mich. – As part of a national movement to honor and show support for family caregivers, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has proclaimed November as Family Caregivers Month in Michigan. This effort raises awareness of the critical role family caregivers play in providing a broad range of assistance for older adults, service members, veterans, people with disabilities, and those with serious or chronic health conditions.

“An estimated 1.7 million family caregivers in our state step up every day to ensure their loved ones can live in their own homes and communities for as long as possible regardless of age or disability status,” said Elizabeth Hertel, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services director. “We are committed to supporting these caregivers not only this month, but every month.”

“The Commission on Services to the Aging welcomes the Governor’s recognition of the important work done by family caregivers,” said Nancy Duncan, Commission on Services to the Aging Advocacy Committee chair. “Their care, love and dedication allow older adults to remain safely at home as they age.”

Resources for family caregivers include support groups, toolkits and workshops through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, advocacy organizations and community-based services. A Michigan Care Kit is available from Caring Across Generations and additional resources are available through the Caregiver Action Network and AARP Resources for Caregivers and their Families.

“Caregivers experience the impact of caring on their time, with implications for their health, family, work and personal and financial well-being,” said David LaLumia, 4AM executive director. “Caregivers deserve our gratitude and our support.  This month, we are pleased to recognize their many contributions to some of our most vulnerable citizens.”

“Family caregivers are the unsung heroes in our communities, providing essential care that enable loved ones to age with dignity at home,” said Paula D. Cunningham, AARP Michigan state director. “This month, and every month, we honor their dedication and recognize the invaluable support they offer to Michigan’s older adults and families.”

According to the Caregiver Action Network, more than half of those providing care in the United States do not recognize themselves as caregivers. Caregiving can include day-to-day support as well as periodic tasks such as attending doctor’s appointments, maintaining and assisting with medications and helping manage finances.

For more information on supporting caregivers, visit Behavioral and Physical Health and Aging Services Administration (BPHASA).

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Nov. 8, 2024

CONTACT: Laina Stebbins, 517-241-2212, [email protected]

Michigan residents reminded of carbon monoxide dangers;
routinely check detectors and appliances 

LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Department of Health and Human Servies (MDHHS) and Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) urge residents to protect their family by taking preventative measures against carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning and check CO detectors and fuel-burning appliances.  

Carbon monoxide is known as the “Invisible Killer.” You cannot see, taste or smell it, but it can be deadly when you breathe it in. CO is found where carbon-based fuels like gasoline, propane, charcoal, wood and others are burned. The gas can build up to deadly levels within minutes in enclosed or poorly ventilated spaces. 

“Carbon monoxide poisoning can happen to anyone if there are no safety measures in place,” said State Fire Marshal Kevin Sehlmeyer. “The only way to tell if it is present is with a carbon monoxide detector. Most CO poisonings take place at home and are caused by items that are not properly installed, cared for or vented like furnaces, water heaters, generators, grills, dryers, space heaters, fireplaces, chimneys and gas stoves. Having these appliances checked yearly by professionals will reduce CO poisoning from happening.”  

“Carbon monoxide poisoning symptoms are similar to the flu,” said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, chief medical executive. “Symptoms include fatigue, headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, drowsiness and confusion. Carbon monoxide poisoning can lead to coma and death, so these symptoms should not be ignored.”  

If you suspect you may be experiencing CO poisoning, or your CO detector alarm alerts, go outside immediately and call 911. Stay away from the enclosed space, even if you aren’t experiencing symptoms, until the fire department tells you it is safe to return.  

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that each year approximately 100,000 people across the country visit the emergency department for accidental CO poisoning. In 2022, there were 727 Michigan emergency department visits for CO poisoning (MiTracking Data Portal).  

CO exposure may be particularly dangerous for:

• Developing babies: Fetal blood cells absorb CO more easily than adult blood cells.
• Children: Children have smaller bodies and breathe more rapidly than adults, potentially taking in more of the gas.
• Older adults: Older adults are very susceptible to carbon monoxide poisoning and may be more likely to develop brain damage following exposure to the gas.
• People who have heart disease: CO causes direct damage to the heart, which permanently impairs heart function. People who have pre-existing heart disease are at greater risk for serious adverse health effects following exposure.
• Those with chronic exposure: People who are repeatedly exposed to carbon monoxide can incur more severe health effects at lower levels of exposure.

CO poisoning is preventable. Here are some prevention tips to follow:

• Install CO detectors. Detectors should be on every level of your home including the basement, mechanical rooms and near sleeping areas.
• Replace detectors every five years or according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Test detectors monthly to ensure they work.
• Generators should be run at a safe distance (at least 20 feet) from the home. Never run a generator in the home, garage or next to windows, doors or other enclosed spaces. Remember that CO can build up and linger for hours, even when the generator has been shut off.
• Maintain and use fuel-burning devices correctly. Have heating systems, water heater and any fuel-burning devices inspected by a professional every year. Make sure gas appliances are vented properly.
• Where you have fuel-burning devices, use a CO detector. Have a detector handy when camping or hunting and/or when using tents, cabins, RVs and boats with enclosed cabins.
• Never run a car in an enclosed space. If a vehicle is running in the garage, the garage door must be fully open to allow harmful fumes to escape.
• Use fuel-burning devices outside only. Never run a gasoline or propane heater or charcoal, gas or wood grill inside your home or in any enclosed space, including a garage.

Additional CO poisoning and poisoning prevention information is available at the following sites:

State of Michigan

• LARA
  • MI Prevention.
• MDHHS
  • CO and Generators (Video).
  • MiTracking – CO Poisoning. 

National

• CDC – CO Poisoning Basics.
• Consumer Product Safety Commission.
• National CO Awareness Association.

Visit https://Michigan.gov/MiTracking for more information about CO poisoning.